How did this interview go? Did I do well? Or was it just there? After an interview, you have similar questions because you want to know if you will get the job. While this is sometimes effective, often you’re not sure of the outcome.
Waiting to hear back from recruiters can be tough, especially if it’s a role you’re really interested in. Luckily, there are a few signs to look out for after the interview or during the interview process to help you know if you should simply move on, or look forward to receiving an offer.
If you see these signs, take that as a cue to learn more about interviews and how to communicate your skills and experiences in a way that the interviewer sees your value for the company.
1. The interview was cut short
Interviews are an opportunity for you to get to know the company you’ll likely work for and for them to get to know you to see if there’s a fit. So anything between 30-45 mins depending on the role you’re applying for is a good time for both parties to come to a decision.
Unfortunately, many things can affect your interview making it end earlier than expected. For example, if your network is unstable, your device went off, there was no electricity or any other technical issue, your interview may end earlier than expected.
In such cases, it’s not a good sign as recruiters may not be open to rescheduling. Hence, when preparing for an interview, put your best foot forward. This means planning ahead to ensure nothing interferes.
2. Lack of interest in your answers
If the interviewer sees that you aren’t a good fit for the company, they may lack the enthusiasm to continue asking you questions. Of course, they wouldn’t hurriedly show that they’re disengaged or they no longer have interest in your responses. But they wouldn’t also dig deep to find out more about your experience and how it can be valuable to the company.
If you notice any signs of uninterest from the interviewer, it may be a sign that you’re not a good fit for the company and that they have no intentions of moving on to the next stage.
3. No mention of next steps
When an interview goes well, the interviewer usually informs you of all the next steps before they make an offer. This could either be where they talk to you about a test to confirm your skills, what the next round of interviews will be, or what else to expect from them. But if they abruptly end the conversation with the popular “we’ll get back to you,” it’s usually not a good sign. It likely means they have no intentions to move forward and it may be time to take your job search elsewhere.
4. Negative body language
Body language is often how someone reacts to you. If the interviewer is receptive, they’ll maintain eye contact, reiterate some points you’ve made, and ask follow-up questions to learn more about your skills. On the other hand, if they fail to do either of these, it may mean that they have no intentions to move forward with your application.
While this is easier to spot for in-person interviews, virtual interviews can be a lot harder. In this case, check that the interviewer is actively listening to you, nodding in some cases, and is interested in what you have to say.
5. No discussion about your availability
When an interviewer sees you as a prospect, they will ideally ask about your availability, to know when you can start. If you’re not a match, they wouldn’t ask about your start date or availability or even notice period. It’s an indicator that they’re not planning to hire you.
On the other hand, if you’re asked when you can start, be enthusiastic but honest about it. This also allows the company to plan properly.
6. Vague answers to your questions
Interviewers are usually interested in answering any questions you may have regarding the role, the company, or their culture. And as such, they’re always interested when you ask questions. However, this only applies if they’re interested in you or consider you a potential candidate. If you’re not a good match for them, they have no reason to respond enthusiastically to your questions. For them, it’s just another “we wish you all the best in your job search.”
7. They focused on other candidates
A good interview enables an interviewer to get to know your skills, qualifications, and experiences. More so, it helps them to know how your skills can be beneficial to the company at its current stage. So if you are in an interview where the conversation is mostly about the qualifications of other candidates they’ve seen, and not about yours, then you’re in the wrong interview and they may already have someone in mind.
8. The interviewer didn’t sell the job
When an interviewer sees you as a good match, they want to do everything possible to sell the job to you so you can see it as a good fit for you and become interested in coming on board.
But if this doesn’t happen, then it could be a red flag. More so, if the interviewer puts no effort into explaining the role to you or what your responsibilities will look like, then they probably just wasted your time. Every company wants you to believe that they have a healthy culture that supports your growth and career journey. If you don’t feel like that’s what happening, then it’s a sign to continue your job search.
9. No follow-up after the interview
This is probably the most common sign that you will not get the job offer after the interview. Typically, when there’s a match, you’ll receive an email informing you of the next steps, if you’d be required to take a test, and the timeline for reviewing the test. If you didn’t get any of these, then the interviewer probably wasn’t impressed enough.
To be sure, you can reach out to the interviewer to ask about the next steps after the interview. Their response will let you know if you’re progressing, or if you’ll need to continue your search.
10. No discussion about salary
A recruiter will talk about your salary expectations if they’re interested in bringing you on board or if you’re a top candidate for them. But if they have no interest in bringing you on board, they won’t bother discussing pay or your salary expectations. And even if you ask, they’ll likely give a vague or unclear answer.
12. You didn’t feel a connection
The best interviews typically leave you with a certain feeling about the interviewer and the company at large. Also, most interviewers may not remember everything you said about your skills but they will remember how you made them feel or what your personality was like.
So after a job interview, take note of how you feel, the gestures that were made during the call, and if the conversation was beyond work. That can be a strong sign that you’ll get the job offer or not.
Pro tip: Always try to create a rapport with the interviewer as that may be the reason you get hired for a job.
How to Improve Your Chances of Getting Hired After an Interview
Want to get the job offer after that interview? Here are a few tips to improve your chances;
1. Send a thank-you email
A thank-you email shows gratitude and professionalism, reinforcing your interest in the position. It also gives you a chance to recap key points from the interview and highlight your enthusiasm.
What to do: Send the email within 24 hours. Be concise, polite, and reference specific topics from your interview to make it personal.
2. Address any weaknesses mentioned
If any concerns were raised about your qualifications during the interview, follow up with additional information that demonstrates your ability to overcome them.
What to do: In your thank-you email or a follow-up note, provide examples or references that address these points, showing how you can learn quickly or have handled similar challenges before.
3. Stay engaged with the employer
Maintaining communication signals continued interest in the role. This can keep you top of mind when they are making a decision.
What to do: If there’s no response after a week or the time they mentioned, send a polite follow-up to inquire about the status of your application.
4. Follow up on promises
If you promised to send additional materials during the interview (e.g., a portfolio, references), do so promptly. This shows reliability and keeps the momentum going.
What to do: Ensure that any promised materials are high-quality and reflect your expertise.
5. Ask for feedback
Requesting feedback shows maturity and a willingness to improve. Even if you don’t get the job, it could help you in future interviews.
What to do: If you don’t get the position, ask for specific feedback on what you could improve for next time.
READ ALSO: 7 Interview Tips for Freelancers to Help You Land Your Dream Job
How Long After an Interview Can You Expect a Job Offer?
Ideally, the hiring process takes anywhere from three to six weeks depending on the nature of the role and the interviewers involved. If you saw any of these signs, it may mean that you wouldn’t get the offer after the interview.
However, if you didn’t see any of these signs and you know the interview went well, you may be on your way to getting that new job. But don’t start celebrating until you receive a formal offer letter.
Feel free to ask the interviewer when you should expect to hear back from them to help you manage your expectations.
READ ALSO: How to Get & Retain Clients as a Freelancer in Nigeria
Comments from people on how they knew they wouldn’t get the job
“The interview was via Google meet. So they told me to explain the task I submitted in my application so I went on to explain. After all was said, I realized that I was just talking to a blank screen. My network was so bad, I knew I wasn’t getting the job.”
"I went for a job interview in Ecobank, they gave us beans and bread, I didn't know it was part of the interview, so I opened the bread, pour the beans and pressed it together, after eating, the HR came and said, ma there is still more beans oo, I looked up and saw the CCTV." @Justice_E_P_A
“I was asked what value I’d add at an interview at the British Council many years ago in Lagos. I told them I’d fix the door at the reception because it was squeaky when I opened it. When I got home, I began to ask myself If I was a carpenter. They never called me back.” Tunde Omotoye
"I was unconsciously using the phrase "Shey you get" while giving my answers. At the end interviewer said "we will get back to you, shey you get." Ayotibami
"The light went off when I was having an interview & he had this short laughter then told me he had similar experience when he was in Egypt. The conversation went from about my skillset to the situation in Africa. Just knew he’d remember me as the dude from Africa with no power." Agboola S
To read more of these stories, check this tweet.
Improve Your Chances of Getting Hired
The numerous rejections you can get after applying for a job can easily discourage you. But don’t give up yet! You can still find your dream job.
The signs listed in this article help you assess your interview so you can easily manage expectations and know what to focus on and do better.
As a freelancer who works on multiple projects, you’ll always have interviews. Rather than see it as the most dreadful part of the job, use the opportunity to improve your communication skills. Plus practice makes perfect!
Check out Expaat to see more job opportunities and work with your dream clients. Sign up on Expaat to apply for your next job!
